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Cloquet: Witness tampering in 2000 homicide

A Cloquet woman has pleaded guilty to witness tampering and arson arising from a 2000 homicide case.

Sandra Kay Couture pleaded guilty Friday. St. Louis County attorneys' office says the plea deal calls for a sentence of eight years and eight months, but the actual sentence will be determined by the judge.

Prosecutors allege she worked at the direction of her boyfriend, Joseph John Couture, who's charged with second-degree murder and criminal sexual conduct in the stabbing death of 33-year-old Trina Langenbrunner. The case against him remains pending.

Sandra Couture was accused of threatening two people they allegedly believed to be witnesses. Prosecutors say she admitted to setting fire to the property of one of the witnesses, destroying a home and vehicles and killing two dogs.